However, there were no significant differences between in kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty in posterior body height restoration for patients with W-shape fractures, nor were there any differences in anterior and posterior height restoration and kyphosis correction in V-shape fractures, and kyphoplasty did not significantly improve posterior height restoration or kyphosis correction in patients with F-shape fractures.

Kim et al reported that although previous studies have shown superior results with kyphoplasty over vertebroplasty, their study was the first to compare surgical outcomes according to fracture shape. They added that W-shape fractures have more potential for restoration of anterior body height (because they have more preoperative kyphotic angles) and, thus, intravertebral ballooning during kyphoplasty could correct the kyphotic deformity more effectively than in other fractures. They said: “We suggest that W-shape fractures have the best indications for kyphoplasty.”

They concluded: “Further studies to evaluate optimal treatments for specific subtypes of vertebral body fracture and long-term follow-up studies with a greater number of patients for correlations of clinical outcomes and radiologic changes are warranted.”